Goodbye 112 Oak Pointe

It's official...we sold our house. As of September 19th, this house belongs to someone else. Thank you Lord for 5 wonderful years. You abundantly blessed us and we leave with such sweet memories. May your spirit continue to be present and welcome.

A small distraction...but one BIG God!

Okay, anyone who knows me...knows that I have a real soft spot when it comes to animals. So, when I found this little bitty kitty that fit in the palm of my hand, I knew I was in trouble. As I held this helpless little kitten, I lifted up a plea to the Lord and said "Lord, you know how you've made me, you know I can't ignore this kitten. However, you also know that I have a huge mountain of other responsibilities to handle...packing, moving, homeschooling. So, Lord, please bring an answer quickly." A few hours later...He did just that. I had gone to PetSmart to purchase formula for the kitten and the cashier was part of an animal rescue organization. She agreed to take it and care for it. Amazing how God cares about every detail of our lives...what an awesome God we serve!

Fun Run

Brian and Brandon ran their first competitive race on Labor Day. Dad (Brian) ran the US 10K classic and the boys ran the kid's 1K race. They all did great! Brian said it was definitely the toughest 10K race he's run....five very steep hills. The boys woke up the next morning and felt what "sore muscles" were for the first time. May this be the first of many races they experience together.

21 years later....

And he still makes me feel like the luckiest girl in the world!

Pananma City

What fun in the sun we had this summer on our family vacation at Panama City. Our kids are such beach bums, just like their mom & dad. Which makes for lots of relaxing days enjoying the sand and sun. I even read an entire book. Which is a huge accomplishment for me. As our children get older, there is not much that we enjoy more than spending an entire week together without all the everyday distractions! Looking forward to next year already!

The Beauty of the Beach

The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display

knowledge.

There is no such speech or language

where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,

their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens, he has pitched a tent for

the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming

forth from his pavillion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his

course.

It rises at one end of the heavens

and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.

~Psalm 19

Ocean Friend or Foe?

Several mornings while out on the beach, we were visited by this "small" sand shark. It didn't seem to even notice us. It was much more interested in feeding off the small fish in the shallow waters. However, it was a bit too close for comfort.

Shaggy to Short

BEFORE

AFTER

BIG birthdays celebrated!

Both Uncle Chris and Lauren celebrated birthdays in the last few weeks.

Uncle Chris turned "4-0" on May 26th. We celebrated by going out on the boat and enjoying a few fun hours on the lake. Then we came home and had a cook out. Uncle Chris, we are blessed to be able to celebrate this special day with you. You bring so much fun and joy to each of our lives. We Love You!









Lauren turned "Sweet 16!" on June 4th. We had a ladies day out that included a pampering at the nail salon, getting a 2nd piercing in her ears, and shopping. We had a fun family dinner and then Brian presented her with a special gift, a purity (promise) ring. It was a very special time to share together as a family.













Lauren~We love you very much and pray that this next year is a year in which the true amazing gift of Grace becomes even bigger in your life. As you continue to put your hope & trust in God, may you experience much joy in the journey!

First Formal Dance

Lauren was invited to go to a JROTC (military) Ball with a friend from school. The other girls are good friends from school that also went. Unfortunately, my battery died before the boys arrived...I'll post those pictures later after I get copies from other (more responsible) parents.

Her first ball...all dressed up and still so silly! I love it!

Mucho Blessing in Mexico!

Brian & I were treated to a fabulous trip to Los Cabos, Mexico. The woman who owns the business he works for is retiring & selling the company. She took fifteen employees (& their guest) to a beautiful resort for 4 days. How generous is that? Like I told my children, I don't think I'll see a more beautiful place until I get to heaven...words cannot describe the beauty-one of the finest of God's creations. We had such a wonderful and relaxed time . Such a treasured memory. The kindness of the Lord-overwhelming!

Lions, Tigers & Bears...Oh My!

It's the week of spring break and the kids and I went to a really neat place today with our friends. For those that are local, you've got to check out "Noah's Ark". It is an animal rehabilitation center for abused, unwanted, or injured animals of all kinds. The animals are very up close and personal...deer, llama, pigs & peacocks just roam freely around the grounds. The most amazing sight we saw was a llama giving birth! We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed a fun afternoon. It's located about an hour from here (Locust Grove, GA). If you are looking for a fun day trip...put this one on your list! (http://www.noahs-ark.org/)

Fun, Friends & in our 40's!

We (Carol, Anita, Jan & I) had one last 40th birthday celebration for Jan this weekend and went to see "Menopause, the Musical". The hilarious celebration of women and "the Change!" It was such a fun show with so many creative songs to encourage women about this time in their life! However, even though it was very funny...I have to admit, I think it scared me more than it encouraged me:) In any event, what a great feeling to know....when the time comes....I have such wonderful girlfriends to share the experience with!

Catching Up on the Past 4 months!

Whew!
Just a quick glimpse of all the happenings in the past few months. Let's see....Christmas was wonderful, we spent it with Brian's parents and also got a new pet, then on to basketball season for Jordan, Brian, and Brandon. Mixed in there were Musicals, Spelling Bees, and birthdays. The Lord has been kind and mericiful through it all. However, the biggest changes are yet to come. We have decided to take our younger three children out of the private christian school we have been part of for the past 9 years and move them ALL to Kings Academy. A big change for everyone. However, we feel confident that the Lord is leading . We also decided to take a leap of faith and attempt to sell our house and move to Woodstock. It would be much closer to school and save alot of time in the car for everyone. We'll keep you posted.

Spring is Back...and so am I!

After my loooong Winter's nap....I thought it was time to "spring" back into action. So let the blogging begin...